”It has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.” — Winston Churchill, on the floor of Parliament in November 1947.
The right to vote is like water, it’s not appreciated when easily accessible. The lack of water can be very serious. Not voting can also have serious implications. Even if you think your vote won’t make a difference, it is a very important duty for every eligible citizen, and a representation that you care.
Not voting is disrespectful to every founding father, to every civil rights leader, to every soldier who has shivered in a cold, muddy foxhole or received a disability. It's disrespectful to every sailor who has drown in battle, or to every airman who has gone down in flames. Our Founding Fathers and those that have served in the military are very few. The rest live in the comfort and protection of this country. We only ask that these citizens keep up with policies and events, then vote. Yet 80-100 million eligible voters will not vote in the general election.
This year is tough for almost all of us voters! The two choices for President have serious flaws, but there is no doubt that one of them will be President for the next four years. Vote if you wish on a third party candidate, but it will be a wasted vote. It will not even be worthy as a protest. In effect, you will be helping to elect the candidate you dislike the most. It's a tough decision, but if you think choosing who to vote for, or whether to vote at all is tough, then I’m happy for you that you never had to sleep in a foxhole.
The future path America will take is tremendously impacted by this election. Who you like or dislike personally is irrelevant in comparison to the platforms each will push, and the Supreme Court that will be chosen and in power for many years to come. The very character of our country will reflected by future Supreme Court decisions and the policies of those in power, power that voters entrust to them. Your vote must reflect the platform that most closely matches the policies you hope to see. To want a perfect match is understandable, but impossible.
However, if you don’t know the name of the first president, if you don’t know who the US fought in WWII, if you think Native American Indians won the Civil War, then maybe we don’t need your vote any more than we need a blind man flying Flt 745 to Newark. We assume reaching a certain age qualifies us for the right to vote, but there are twelve-year-olds more qualified and knowledgeable than many adults. My personal belief is knowledge of the candidates and/or issues is more important than voting age.
There are those that say the system is rigged, that powerful people really run things in the background. If true, not voting will ensure that continues. I have a friend who has lived in Singapore, the Middle East, and Korea. He states those experiences have made him appreciate the freedoms and rights in the US even more. We have a flawed system with flawed candidates, but in what other country will you find less flaws than a government framed around our constitution?
Yes, voting is a lot like water. The world is full of citizens thirsting for the right to vote, the right to have a say in their governments no matter how insignificant. Vote! Ignore the weather, ignore your aches and pains, and ignore the friends that tell you that your vote won’t matter. Drag the kids, leave early for work. Ask for a ride, stand in hopefully long lines, whatever it takes. VOTE! Do it as a thank you to the heroes and patriots of the past, and as a a duty to your kids, setting them up for the future you think will be best for them and the country they will someday run.
The right to vote is like water, it’s not appreciated when easily accessible. The lack of water can be very serious. Not voting can also have serious implications. Even if you think your vote won’t make a difference, it is a very important duty for every eligible citizen, and a representation that you care.
Not voting is disrespectful to every founding father, to every civil rights leader, to every soldier who has shivered in a cold, muddy foxhole or received a disability. It's disrespectful to every sailor who has drown in battle, or to every airman who has gone down in flames. Our Founding Fathers and those that have served in the military are very few. The rest live in the comfort and protection of this country. We only ask that these citizens keep up with policies and events, then vote. Yet 80-100 million eligible voters will not vote in the general election.
This year is tough for almost all of us voters! The two choices for President have serious flaws, but there is no doubt that one of them will be President for the next four years. Vote if you wish on a third party candidate, but it will be a wasted vote. It will not even be worthy as a protest. In effect, you will be helping to elect the candidate you dislike the most. It's a tough decision, but if you think choosing who to vote for, or whether to vote at all is tough, then I’m happy for you that you never had to sleep in a foxhole.
The future path America will take is tremendously impacted by this election. Who you like or dislike personally is irrelevant in comparison to the platforms each will push, and the Supreme Court that will be chosen and in power for many years to come. The very character of our country will reflected by future Supreme Court decisions and the policies of those in power, power that voters entrust to them. Your vote must reflect the platform that most closely matches the policies you hope to see. To want a perfect match is understandable, but impossible.
However, if you don’t know the name of the first president, if you don’t know who the US fought in WWII, if you think Native American Indians won the Civil War, then maybe we don’t need your vote any more than we need a blind man flying Flt 745 to Newark. We assume reaching a certain age qualifies us for the right to vote, but there are twelve-year-olds more qualified and knowledgeable than many adults. My personal belief is knowledge of the candidates and/or issues is more important than voting age.
There are those that say the system is rigged, that powerful people really run things in the background. If true, not voting will ensure that continues. I have a friend who has lived in Singapore, the Middle East, and Korea. He states those experiences have made him appreciate the freedoms and rights in the US even more. We have a flawed system with flawed candidates, but in what other country will you find less flaws than a government framed around our constitution?
Yes, voting is a lot like water. The world is full of citizens thirsting for the right to vote, the right to have a say in their governments no matter how insignificant. Vote! Ignore the weather, ignore your aches and pains, and ignore the friends that tell you that your vote won’t matter. Drag the kids, leave early for work. Ask for a ride, stand in hopefully long lines, whatever it takes. VOTE! Do it as a thank you to the heroes and patriots of the past, and as a a duty to your kids, setting them up for the future you think will be best for them and the country they will someday run.
See Appendices A & B of The Power of Dadhood. There you will find further help to ensure the best futures for your children.
